Excerpt from the instructional website, The Constructor.
Bond Breakers
Concrete forms can be defined as a solid barrier that helps to hold the fluid concrete in place until it hardens and acquire a particular shape. The concrete takes the shape of the form or the mold in which it is contained. Now new concrete form systems are developed that provides additional properties like insulation, surface patterns and effects to the concrete cast.
The different types of concrete forms used in concrete casting are:
- Wooden Forms
- Insulated Concrete Forms
- Foam Concrete Forms
- Concrete Wall forms
- Steel Forms

Wooden Concrete Forms
Wooden form is the basic and the most conventional type of concrete form. It is employed mainly for concrete casting that does not exceed 6 inches of height. The wooden form types consist of wooden boards. These are either nailed or screwed together to the desired mold or formwork shape. Special leveling devices are used to properly level or slope the form based on the requirement.
In order to cast concrete with curves or any sort of free-form designs, thinner cross-sections are employed to make the form. Before pouring concrete, the inner surfaces are applied with low-grade oil or any form releasing agent so that concrete does not stick to the surfaces.
If properly cleaned and maintained, these forms are suitable for multiple uses.
Insulated Concrete Forms
The insulated concrete forms (ICF) compromises of hollow blocks made of insulating material that is fit together like building blocks as shown in figure-2. These systems are constructed on the foundation slab. This forms a part of the foundation and the wall systems. Reinforcement is placed within these blocks and filled with concrete of required slump and cast. The form and concrete are placed like a sandwich. This system provides high energy efficiency. Removal of forms is not necessary by implementing ICFs. Once the concrete is filled it need not be removed.
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